The Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law is requesting that the U.S. Government remove an ad that suggests that Michael Jordan was fueled by Gatorade in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals, in which he was said to have been suffering from the flu. PHAI suggest that the ad encourages teens to engage in dangerous behavior while sick.

"The Jordan Ad openly promotes engaging in vigorous physical activity while suffering from a very high fever, in Jordan's case 103 degrees," the institute said in a letter dated May 8 to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

"It is a generally recognized safety principle that teens and even professional athletes suffering from a severe fever and flu-like symptoms should not engage in vigorous physical activity." (PHAI)

The ad is called "Win from Within" and Gatorade describes the 30-second commercial on its website as,

"We see Jordan constantly hydrating with Gatorade and returning to the court as we hear Coach Jackson reveal how Jordan was able to persist – he had the will to win and the fuel to help him do it."

The group is disputing that it was even Gatorade that Jordan was drinking during the game, and they want the FTC to investigate whether the color of the liquid in the cup featured at the beginning of the commercial was enhanced or altered.

They feel that the owners of Gatorade, PepsiCo, should be ordered to correct the advertisement and they added,

"There is already enormous pressure on teen athletes to win at all costs by practicing during extreme heat and playing through injuries"

What do you think? Do you think Gatorade is promoting that kids play sports while sick?

Source: inflexwetrust.com